Method and device to control a computer system utilizing a fluid flow

ABSTRACT

A device, to facilitate a user control of a computer system, includes a movable portion movable by a fluid flow of a generated by a user of the device, and a converter to convert movement of the movable portion into an electrical signal to facilitate control of the computer system.

[0001] The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No.09/913,398 filed Aug. 10, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention concerns the technical field for of controlling anelectronic or computer systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A device known as a mouse is used for transforming movements intocontrols required by a user. The mouse is formed by a box equipped withelectronic means connected to the computer for transforming themovements of the box on the working surface into a movement of thecursor or pointer on the computer screen.

[0004] Thus, a mouse more generally includes a ball for rolling over theworking surface, sensors to detect the movements of the ball and meansfor processing the electric signals of the sensors. The processing meansare connected to the computer by an electric cable or a Hertzien orinfrared link. The processing means have been designed to deliversignals recognised by the protocol of the port to which the mouse isconnected, usually corresponding to the standard RS 232. However, themouse can also be connected to the computer via a dedicated interfacecard or to a specific bus in which case the processing means shalldeliver one or several signals recognised by the protocol associatedwith this interface card or bus.

[0005] The mouse may in addition include a certain number of push orscrolling buttons which are also connected to the processing means andwhich correspond to validation or data entry function according to theoperating mode of the computer.

[0006] The means for processing the signals derived from the movementsensors and the position sensors of the scrolling or input buttons thenprovide several principal functions, namely:

[0007] detection of the movement of the mouse,

[0008] detection of the position of the push-buttons,

[0009] and communication with the computer as per the retained standard.

[0010] Communication with the microcomputer is more usually managed by amicroprocessor ensuring the two parts of the processing of the signalsderived from the movement and position detectors of the push-buttons.The mouse also contains means to control the electric feeding of themeans for processing the signals and possibly that of the movementdetection and position sensors.

[0011] Finally, the mouse is associated with a control software loadedinto the computer which decodes the signal transmitted by the mouse. Thedriver provides the application software requesting it informationconcerning the state and status of the mouse: firstly the movement andsecondly the position of the push-buttons so as to enable them to carryout the resultant actions.

[0012] In its most frequently used operating mode, the drivercommunicates with the sub-programme or movement routine of the cursor orpointer when the mouse is moved and sends messages to the programme whenthe push-buttons of the mouse are pressed.

[0013] It ought to be said that for most of the drivers used, themovement of the pointer on the screen does not correspond directly tothat of the mouse. In fact, it has been observed that the movement ofthe mouse can be broken down into two main movements, namely movement ofthe mouse until the pointer is brought into the desired zone and thenits precise positioning on the targeted point or object. Thus, when themouse is moved slowly, the driver generates a movement of the pointer onthe screen of about 100 CPI (Counts Per Inch) or DPI (Dots Per Inch),and when the mouse is moved quickly, the driver generates a movement ofthe pointer of about 400 CPI, indeed 1000 CPI.

[0014] According to the prior art, the mouse gives full satisfaction asa control peripheral of a computer when using the hand.

[0015] However, it may appear necessary to be able to control a computeror electronic system without resorting to using the hands, especiallywhen the user is unable to do so.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] According to one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a device to facilitate a user control of a computer system. Thedevice includes a movable portion movable by a fluid flow of a generatedby a user of the device, and a converter to convert movement of themovable portion into an electrical signal to facilitate control of thecomputer system.

[0017] Various other characteristics appear in the following descriptionwith reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way ofnon-restrictive examples the embodiments of the object of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a preferred embodiment of adevice conforming to the invention for monitoring the movement of apointer on a computer

[0019]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic section showing details of thearrangement of the vibrating segments for a monitoring device conformingto the invention.

[0020]FIG. 3 shows a device for the electromagnetic conversion of thevibrations of a free segment into an electric signal.

[0021]FIG. 4 shows a device for the opto-electronic conversion of thevibrations of a free segment into an electric signal.

[0022]FIG. 5 shows another embodiment variant of a device for theopto-electronic conversion of the vibrations of a free segment into anelectric signal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023]FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates an application example of theinvention for a device denoted in its entirety by the reference 1controlled by the breath of a user for moving the cursor C of a computersystem 1.

[0024] The monitoring device 1 comprises two tubes 2, 3 associated witha movement direction X or Y of the cursor. Each tube 2, 3 has an orifice4 at the level of which an individual can breathe in or suck up air.Opposite the orifices 4, each tube 2, 3 has two free segments, one 5 ₁of the latter being stressed by the air expired or on expiration,whereas the other 5 ₂ is stressed by the inspired air or on inspiration.

[0025] As shown on FIG. 1, each segment 5 ₁ and 5 ₂ is mounted oppositea channel 61 and 6 ₂ fitted in the wall of the tube 2 or 3. Each channel6 ₁, 6 ₂ has dimensions similar to the dimension of the associatedsegment whilst being slightly larger so that the segment can flap in thechannel. So as to ensure vibrating of each of the segments 5 ₁, 5 ₂ byits corresponding stress breath, each segment is placed so as to beflush with the plane P₁ or P₂ of the wall of the tube 2 situatedupstream with respect to the direction of the expiration flow F₁ or F₂for stressing said segment. Thus the segment 51, which needs to bestressed by the expiration flow F₁, is flush with the plane P₁ insidethe tube 2, whereas the segment 5 ₂ needing to stressed by theinspiration flow F₂ is flush with the plane P₂ outside the tube.

[0026] Similarly, so as to provide improved stressing of the segments,each channel 6 ₁, 6 ₂ is preferably, but not necessarily, associatedwith a non-return clack valve 7 ₁ or 7 ₂ allowing only air to pass inthe stress direction of the corresponding segment 5 ₁ or 5 ₂.

[0027] Each segment 5 ₁, 5 ₂ of each tube 2, 3 is associated with aconversion device 10 directly transforming the mechanical vibrations ofthe segment into an electric signal.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, theseconversion means 10 are, as shown on FIG. 3, formed by anelectromagnetic transducer including a magnet 11 and a transducing coil12 associated with a magnetic circuit 13 symbolised by the dot-and-dashlines. This magnetic circuit includes a ferromagnetic portion presentedby the segment 5 at the level of its free extremity 14. The free segment5 is preferably fully made of a plastic material and an element orferromagnetic coating is mounted on its extremity. Of course, thesegment could be fully made of a ferromagnetic material.

[0029] The material constituting the segment 5 has been selected so asto induce a rapid damping of the vibrations of the segment at the end ofstressing. In this respect, it needs to be noted that for the choice ofthis material, the most important criterion is the capacity of thesegment to be vibrated under the action of a fluid flow and moreparticularly a flow of air.

[0030] So as to avoid disturbing the functioning of the electromagnetictransducers 10 associated with the free segments 5 ₁, 5 ₂, the body ofthe monitoring device is preferably embodied, but not exclusively,inside an amagnetic material and preferably in a synthetic material,such as an injected plastic material or even a moulded compositematerial. Moreover, the use of these materials, depending on theirimplementation conditions, can render the device 1 silent.

[0031] According to a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment, eachconversion device 10 includes a mobile adjustment element 15 for comingopposite the segments 5 so allow for an adjustment of the distance d,namely an air gap, separating the foot of the mobile element 15 from thefree extremity 14 of the segment 5. According to the example shown, themobile adjusting element is constituted by a screw forming the core ofthe transducing coil 1 and extending along a direction approximatelyparallel to the extension plane of the segment 5.

[0032] Each conversion device 11 functions as follows. When a segment 5is stressed on vibration by a flow of air circulating in the conduit 2or 3, it starts to vibrate so that the movements of its free extremity14 disturb the magnetic field generated by the magnet 11 and routed bythe magnetic circuit 13. These vibrations then induce an electromotiveforce in the coil 12. This variable electromotive force creates acurrent, the oscillations of the latter being the electric image of themechanical oscillations of the vibrating free segment 5. The electricsignal generated by each conversion device 10 is then amplified and/orprocessed by a processing system 20.

[0033] The processing system 20 is connected by a line 21 to aninterface with a computer 22 comprising a display screen 23.

[0034] The processing system 20 includes the power electronics and amicroprocessor able to process the signals derived from the conversiondevices 10 so as to condition them according to a specific standard orprotocol.

[0035] Therefore, if it is decided to connect the device 1 to a mouseport functioning according to the standard RS 232, the system 20 shallthen process the signals so as to translate them into this standard. Ofcourse, any other dialogue standard could be adopted according to thenature of the computer system 1.

[0036] The system 20 is fed appropriately and, in the case of the use ofan RS 232 standard interface, by an auxiliary power source 24 which usesthe electric current available at the level of the interface.

[0037] The monitoring device 1 thus established may function as follows.

[0038] When the user of the computer wishes to control movement alongthe direction X of the cursor C on the screen 23, he blows into orbreathes out in the first tube 2 for example so as to stress onvibration the segment 5 ₁ of this tube. The characteristics of thesignal transmitted by the conversion device 10 associated with thissegment 5 ₁ then directly depend on the intensity of the blow. Thesystem 20 for processing the electric signal then converts the analogsignal derived from the device 10 into a digital signal transmitted bythe line 21 to an interface of the computer 22. The system 20 may forexample, but not necessarily, process the signal so as to associatevalue thresholds and/or conversion ratios to the information receivedfrom the conversion devices 10. This signal is then interpreted by aDriver programme functioning on the computer 22 into a movement of thecursor C along the direction X towards the right, for example. Themovement speed of the cursor C could then directly depend on theintensity of the blowing applied.

[0039] When the user sucks up or breathes through the same tube 2, thesegment 5 stressed on inspiration shall activate its associatedconversion device 10 which shall transmit an electric signal which,after processing by the system 20, could be translated by the interfaceand the software of the computer 58 into a movement along the directionX towards the left of the cursor C. As previously, the movement speed ofthe cursor shall depend on the intensity of suction.

[0040] Similarly, the fact of breathing out or in through the secondtube 3 shall be associated with a movement of the cursor C along thedirection Y either upwards or downwards.

[0041] The associated Driver of the device 1 could then allow allocationof the tubes 1 and 2 to the movement directions of the cursor C, as wellas the movement directions of the cursor C associated on inspiration andexpiration.

[0042] According to one embodiment variant of the device 1, each segment⁵ 1, 5 ₂ is associated with means for damping its vibrations at the endof stressing so as to guarantee great precision of control of the cursorC.

[0043] In accordance with the invention, it appears that the monitoringdevice 1 is able to obtain functioning of the computer system 22, 23directly subordinate to or controlled by the breath of a user. Theinvention then makes it possible to advantageously control an improvedcomputer system by a user who would have lost use of his upper limbs,for example.

[0044] So as to have functions similar to those of a conventional mouse,the device 1 of the invention may also include systems of buttons to beactivated by pressing one of the buttons.

[0045] These systems may be formed by a mobile portion of the orificewhich activates a switch when it is pressed from above or is moved fromone side to the other.

[0046] The breath pointing device may also include an additional conduitincluding a single free segment 5 associated with a conversion device 10so as to constitute a monitoring device having a function similar tothat of the function button, namely “scroll” present on certain micemake use of a menu.

[0047] Of course, this is only one example of one of the possibleapplications of the invention for monitoring a computer or electronicsystem.

[0048] In fact, the conversion of the vibrations of a free segment intoan electric signal can be used for any other computer action than movingof the cursor.

[0049] Similarly, the fluid current in the example above is sucked in orbreathed out air, but it could also be an air current applied in asuitable way, such as by means of bellows, a blower or a compressed gasreserve or similar element. Equally it could be possible to use anotherfluid, gas or liquid, for generating vibrations of the segment.

[0050] In the examples above, the means for converting movements of thefree segment into an electric signal are constituted by anelectromagnetic transducing system.

[0051] However, in accordance with the invention, the conversion formovements of the free segment into an electric signal could be made inany other way, such as by opto-electronic means formed by theassociation of a light source and a sensor placed so that the vibrationsof the segment creates an interference with the illumination of thesensor.

[0052] Thus, according to one embodiment variant of the invention andshown on FIG. 4, the conversion means are formed for each segment by alight source 30 and a light sensor 31 placed opposite each other and onboth sides of the free segment.

[0053] Thus, when the segment is stressed on vibration by the breath ofthe user, its free extremity placed between the corresponding lightsource and the sensor generates a discontinuous illumination of thesensor so as to create a variable electric signal which shall beprocessed by the processing system 20 of the monitoring device of theinvention, as described previously.

[0054] The light source 20 is preferably formed by a light-emittingdiode (LED) and the sensor 31 is formed by a phototransistor. So as toavoid daylight disturbing the detection of the vibrations of thesegment, the conversion device works in infrared. Similarly, a dark zoneis provided close to the light source and sensor. Of course, it is alsopossible to use a photo-resistor as a light sensor.

[0055] So as to increase the surface area of the segment placed betweenthe sensor 31 and the light source 30, the free extremity of the segmentmay bear a screen 32 for hiding the light source with respect to thesensor in certain positions of the segment and more particularly whenthe latter is inactive. It is also possible to provide a window, eitherin the segment or in the screen, so as to clearly determine thepositions of said segment in which the light ray reaches the sensor 31.

[0056] It could also be possible to adapt the light-emitting diode 30 atthe free extremity of the segment and place a window in front of thephototransistor so as to reduce its optical opening. The feeding of thediode 30 can then be carried out with the aid of sliding contactsco-operating with one or two conductive ranges so as to feed the diodesolely when it moves in front of the sensor 31.

[0057] According to another variant shown on FIG. 5, the extremity ofone of the faces of the free segment 5 is covered with a coatingreflecting the light emitted by the light source 30.

[0058] The light sensor 31 is then placed so as to receive in its restposition the segment 5 and via reflection onto the segment 5 the lightemitted by the source 30. When the segment vibrates, the reflected lightis deflected so that it no longer fully reaches the sensor 31. The lightintensity received by the sensor 31 thus varies and the movement of thesegment 5 is therefore converted into an electric signal.

[0059] Of course, it is also possible to convert the movements of thefree segment into an electric signal by other conversion means, such aswith the aid of a piezo-electric sensor integral with the segment, thissensor then being connected to the processing system 20 of themonitoring device.

[0060] In the examples above, the means for converting the movements ofthe free segment into an electric signal are used for monitoring acomputer system, but they could also be used for monitoring any otherelectronic system and especially within the context of an electricmusical instrument, such as a free reed instrument.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method to control a computer system, the methodincluding: converting movement of a movable portion of a user inputdevice into an electrical signal utilizing a conversion device, themovement of the movable portion of the user input device caused by havea flow of a fluid generated by a user, and the electrical signal tofacilitate control of the computer system.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the movement of the movable portion is a vibrating movement. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the movable portion is a segment movablysecured to the user input device.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thefluid is air, and the flow of the fluid is generated by a breath of auser.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the flow of the fluid is agenerated from the any one of inspiration and expiration by the user. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical signal is to provide auser input to a user interface of the computer system.
 7. A device tofacilitate a user control of a computer system, the device including: amovable portion movable by a fluid flow generated by a user of thedevice; and a converter to convert movement of the movable portion intoan electrical signal to facilitate control of the computer system. 8.The device of claim 7, including a body to which the movable portion issecured, and wherein the movable portion comprises a segment having asecured end, secured to the body, and a free end, the segment beingpivotally movable about the secured end.
 9. The device of claim 8,wherein the body defines at least one fluid channel to carry the fluidflow, and wherein the movable portion is secured to the body so as tothe movable by the fluid flow through the at least one fluid channel.10. The device of claim 7, wherein the converter includes apiezo-electric transducer.
 11. The device of claim 7, wherein theconverter includes an electromagnetic transducer.
 12. The device ofclaim 7, wherein the device includes a light sensor arranged relative tothe movable portion so that the movement of the movable portion disturbsillumination of the light sensor.
 13. The device of claim 12, whereinthe device includes a light source arranged to illuminate the lightsensor.
 14. The device of claim 7, including first and second movableportions and the body defining first and second fluid channels, thefirst and second movable portions being in fluid communication with thefirst and second fluid channels respectively so that a first fluid flowwithin the first fluid channel causes movement of the first movableportion and a second fluid flow within the second fluid channel causesmovement of the second movable portion.
 15. The device of claim 14,including a first converter to convert the movement of the first movableportion into a first electrical signal, and a second converter toconvert the movement of the second movable portion into a secondelectrical signal, the first and second electrical signals comprisingdifferent control signals for input to the computer system.
 16. Thedevice of claim 15, wherein the first and second electrical signals areto control movement of a cursor of a user interface.
 17. The device ofclaim 7, including a processor to process the electrical signal so as toconform the electrical signal to a specific protocol.
 18. The device ofclaim 7, including a damper to dampen the movement of the movableportion.